Friday, May 16, 2008

Introducing Thirst and 10

Simply put, we're looking for the best bars to get a buzz on before (during?) and after games. This is a bar-only category and there are ground rules. The establishment must be within crawling distance of the stadium (because as we all know, it's not cool to drink and drive). It must feature cheap booze, hot looking waitresses (or waiters if that's your thing), bathrooms and indoor plumbing.

You can send your nominations to dawizofodds (at) aol.com, or post them in the comments below. Tell us why an establishment is worthy of entry. We're looking for places of character (no corporate shops). If the joint has a layer of grime, even better.

And once again, it must be within a reasonable distance of the stadium. We will post entries that qualify and when finished, our panel of experts will cut the field to 10. Then you, the voting public, will select a winner. The bar crawl begins Monday. Cheers!

17 comments:

Ramblin'
said...

After a Georgia Tech game there's no better place to go than the Vortex in Midtown Atlanta. http://www.thevortexbarandgrill.com They've got the best burgers in town, an extensive draft and bottle beer list (St. Bernardus Abt 12 is my favorite) A great scotch list, and this fabulous appetizer called nacho tots. Essentially nacho tots come as a huge plate of tater tots topped with all your favorite nacho condiments. The bar is dark, the waitresses are all goth and it's a great place to hang out.

There are quite a few in Gainesville located directly across from The Swamp, but the easiest to stumble to is probably called...you guessed it...The Swamp. Have fun waiting in line for an hour to get in on a Friday night, but on Saturdays it's not as bad because most of the student population heads downtown. The place is an old 2-story house and has outside seating (mostly standing) areas both downstairs and up and points directly at the stadium. Not bad food, nice waitresses, and a place I spent waaaaaaay too much of my parents money at while I was in school. On gamedays they usually bring a big screen out onto the patio (which is basically right on University Avenue and blocked off by a white picket fence) and it has been a good place to see Gator basketball players hanging out over the years.

The Linebacker after Notre Dame games is always a good time. It's in walking distance from the stadium and the beer is cheap. After the game it gets crowded inside but they have tents outside with TV's and bartenders.

I second the Linebacker recommendation. But real men forget the outside tents- we go inside after the game and don't leave until 3am. Yes it gets very crowded and dirty, but have a few of the deliciously potent drinks and you'll love it. Drink to get drunk at the 'Backer. Good times.

Before, during, and after a Clemson football game, there is no better place than The Esso Club. It is filled with great items from Clemson sports past, such as the bar top being the original wooden seating used in Death Valley. Party inside and out. Very short "crawl" over to Death Valley for the game. It is a really great feel, as The Esso Club is an old 1920's gas and grocery station. They no longer sell gas of course. Oh yeah, and just ask Brent Musburger what one of his favorite sports bars in the country is, he'll tell you it's The Esso Club.

Virginia Tech: Top of the Stairs (TOTS for short). Across the street from the student union and close to the stadium.

Oklahoma: O'Connell's. Across the street from the stadium. Always has tents and a big screen in the parking lot on game days. Unfortunately, 2008 will be its last season. The university bought the land and will turn O's and surrounding businesses into a parking lot next winter.

Iowa State: Welsh Avenue Station. Behind O's as the best bar I've been to in the Big 12. However, I haven't been to Boulder.

We're off to a great, great start here. This is making me thirsty. ... If anybody happens to have photos of any of these establishments and would like to share for the postings, please send them to dawizofodds (at) aol.com.

The Library in Boone, NC. home of the back-to-back-to-back champions, Appalachian State University!! the waitresses dress up as school girls and they serve massive amounts of beer. of urse there are flat screens and dart boards all over the joint! oh yea, and no books!!!

In Austin--Scholz Garden ...about a qtr mile from stadium...130 yrs old...quesion--how did that dude ever say IA st was best but never been to Boulder?!!? Boulder has the best beer on sweet earth but the bars are all a hike from the stadium. Yank his credentials!

Bullwinkle's Saloon in Minneapolis for Gophers football. It's a two level bar that's about the size of a double decker bus. The upstairs is like a loft and you can look down to the first floor. There's also a bubble hockey machine up there, too. They have the best (and cheapest) burgers, dogs, and beer near the Metrodome. The bartenders play their own mix CD's, which can include anything from George Clinton, David Bowie, and Violent Femmes to Rancid, Elastica, and White Zombie. And best of all, the idiots from Iowa and Wisconsin aren't as aware of this place when they come to town. You can walk by the huge line of them waiting to get into Hubert's and laugh before you go get your fill instantly at Bullwinkle's.

Harry's Chocolate Shop in West Lafayette is a great place for gameday breakfast clubbing before a Purdue game, or after the game, or anytime really. Anyplace that can get 100 people to line up in costumes at 6:30 in the morning for a non halloween related event has gotta be okay.